Opinion: Pressure needs to be ratcheted up in order to make Kim Jong Un back down

by Boris Epshteyn, Chief Political Analyst

(MGN Online)

EDITOR'S NOTE: Boris Epshteyn formerly served as a Senior Advisor to the Trump Campaign and served in the White House as Special Assistant to The President and Assistant Communications Director for Surrogate Operations.

WASHINGTON (Sinclair Broadcast Group) - North Korea tested another ballistic missile this week. They claim that the missile could carry a “super large heavy warhead” and that North Korea has now completed development of its nuclear program.

Experts are not so sure. This latest provocation appears to be more of a message by Kim Jong Un to his people than a flexing of muscles to the world.

The missile was not fired over Japan, as had been done previously. Moreover, the test did not target the U.S. territory of Guam or include any other overtly offensive military action.

The United States, its allies and even China have condemned the latest belligerent action by North Korea. China could still be stronger as they also called on other countries to not escalate tensions with North Korea.

Where do we go from here?

The administration, as well Democrats and Republicans on the hill are promising further sanctions against North Korea. Part of those sanctions would punish the financial institutions which facilitate the flow of money to the rogue state. The goal is to cut North Korea off from the rest of the world and, frankly, squeeze the regime into backing down.

I don’t see Kim Jong Un bending to these sanctions because those hurt his people, they don’t hurt him.

Here is the bottom line, what’s likely to happen is North Korea will continue to develop nuclear and ballistic technology. Kim Jong Un will keep feeding his starving people with boasts about military might. The situation will deescalate when North Korea is either cut off completely by China, the sanctions become truly crippling or a military option is exercised.